Construction work on the Tauern tunnel: Eight months closure hits commuters and vacationers

Construction work on the Tauern tunnel: Eight months closure hits commuters and vacationers

An important rail connection that connects the north and south of the Alps faces comprehensive renovation work. From Monday, November 18, 2024, the Tauern tunnel between Böckstein and Mallnitz will remain completely closed for eight months. This measure was necessary to bring the security technology up to date and to modernize various elements of the tunnel infrastructure, including the shell and the overhead line. With a length of 8.3 kilometers, the Tauern tunnel is one of the most important north-south connections for the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). It is not only used for freight transport, but also by numerous long -distance trains that transport passengers between Germany, Austria and Italy. This route is of great importance for commuters and travelers, especially in the travel time.

consequences of the closure

With the start of the block, all ÖBB night jets that run from Germany to Italy are out without replacement. This includes trains from Stuttgart via Munich to Venice and from Munich to Rome. This will encounter resentment in particular among travelers and business travelers, since they have to fall back on alternative means of transport.

For train traffic between Munich and Zagreb, a diversion is set up via Graz. Long -distance traffic is replaced by hourly buses between Bischofshofen and Spittal on the Drau during the closure. Travelers to the Gastein Valley can continue to arrive by train by March 2025, but train traffic will also be discontinued from March 3. March and a replacement of rails between Schwarzach im Pongau and Bad Gastein.

influence on commuters and travel

The temporary closure of the Tauern tunnel particularly hits the commuters in the region. Although replacement buses are offered between Mallnitz and Bad Gastein, this means for many commuters a drastic increase in the travel time of only 22 minutes by train to almost six hours by bus. This extension will be a burden for the data subjects both mentally and physically.

In addition, the blocking does not only refer to train traffic. A bus shuttle will also be set up for cyclists who use the Tauern lock as part of the Alpe-Adria cycle path, from April 11, 2025. The Tauernschleuse for drivers is also not available until July 5, 2025, since it serves as an alternative route to the Tauern motorway, which is also impaired due to renovations.

The current blocking is only the first step, because in the first half of 2027 a second construction phase is planned, which will again lead to a five -month closure of the tunnel. This raises questions about how the region and passengers will deal with the continuous impairments. Another important connection, the central Dolomite Pass, remains blocked by the end of November and thus increases the pressure on alternative travel paths.